Old Burying Point Cemetery
Old Burying Point Cemetery
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Salem’s oldest cemetery, founded in 1637, and final resting place for several notable Salem residents. Located directly behind this cemetery is the Witch Trials Memorial. The cemetery is currently closed for restoration work.
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- Abel RMiami, Florida776 contributionsA burial ground of judges involved in the Salem Witch Trials.A cemetery with graves dating back to the 17th century. Free entry to explore around. Gravestones are fragile and you are urged to remain on path. Lots of historical people are buried here, including the Salem Witch trials as well as some Mayflower passage individuals.Visited March 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 23 February 2024
- Kristi CStanwood, Washington39 contributionsWorth a visitWe visited as part of an evening tour and it was great and very spooky. We came back the following morning to experience it during the day as well. Highly recommend taking a tour that includes this as a stop to get the most out of your visit.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 3 July 2024
- candice1997Homosassa, Florida58 contributionsCemetery is amazing...staff not so muchI'm giving 5 stars because this is my home town and I haven't visited in quite some time. Anyway, spent the day here recently and went to the cemetery. Cemetery is amazing, I totally recommend going on their website and reading about those that are buried there. Anyway after we walked around we were looking at the old building near the cemetery and my husband being in construction points out these overlaps in the siding. This guy that worked there tells "please do not touch the building", my husband yelled back saying "I wasn't I was pointing at something." I walked away mad and didn't want to say this cause I didn't want to cause a scene in the street.....My question is, when you close up at night who is watching the building when people are walking up and down it, night after night touching it, homeless probably pee on it. And if you're SO concerned about something/someone TOUCHING your building. Why not put a goddam fence around it.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 12 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1 556 reviews
Excellent
908
Very good
450
Average
163
Poor
27
Terrible
8
Lucas K
Amherst, MA29 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Normally, I love visiting old cemeteries. Reading the inscriptions, trying to make a little sense of what I’m taking in, even though it’s all but impossible to know anything about anyone based on the few words on their tombstones.
Unfortunately, because of the wear and tear of the throngs of tourists that descend on the cemetery every day, every month, every year, the powers that be have decided that we (visitors) must use the paths that they’ve created to navigate through. I get it, the cemetery must be preserved, but still found it disappointing.
Unfortunately, because of the wear and tear of the throngs of tourists that descend on the cemetery every day, every month, every year, the powers that be have decided that we (visitors) must use the paths that they’ve created to navigate through. I get it, the cemetery must be preserved, but still found it disappointing.
Written 11 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
candice1997
Homosassa, FL58 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
I'm giving 5 stars because this is my home town and I haven't visited in quite some time. Anyway, spent the day here recently and went to the cemetery. Cemetery is amazing, I totally recommend going on their website and reading about those that are buried there. Anyway after we walked around we were looking at the old building near the cemetery and my husband being in construction points out these overlaps in the siding. This guy that worked there tells "please do not touch the building", my husband yelled back saying "I wasn't I was pointing at something." I walked away mad and didn't want to say this cause I didn't want to cause a scene in the street.....My question is, when you close up at night who is watching the building when people are walking up and down it, night after night touching it, homeless probably pee on it. And if you're SO concerned about something/someone TOUCHING your building. Why not put a goddam fence around it.
Written 12 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abbie H
Chesapeake, VA17 contributions
Oct 2022
So apparently you have to buy tickets to go to the cemetery, but I could not find a place to buy them? The one spot I found for tickets was a bit fishy, charging $30/person, on a sketchy website. I believe you can buy first thing in the morning in person, but they sell out QUICK! Something I definitely wish we could've seen, but it just didn't work out. From the fence, the property seemed very well maintained, and the tombstones are in great shape! Glad to see that they are all taken care of!
Written 4 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline B
Knoxville, TN13 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
This cemetery is really cool to look at, I just wish we would have been able to go inside to actually walk around. Currently it is under some much needed renovation so it you can’t go inside but the sign says it should be open in the next few months. We will have to come back to check it out when it is done.
Written 15 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
txhawk36
Kyle, TX142 contributions
Oct 2021
The cemetery is open now and visitors are allowed to peruse the headstones. It is fascinating to think that some of these are 300 years old. Having gone to Salem to seek the history of the Salem Witch Trials, this is one of the few historical sites from that time frame. There was a gatekeeper that allowed only a certain amount of visitors in at a time, and you must stay on the walkways. In the visitor center, there is some information about tombstones and how they started to be made. It is interesting to think about why they were made in such a shape, and how they have evolved over the many years.
Written 31 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S R
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Friends
Free reservations required, must book the morning of as soon as they go on “sale” to get a slot. The cemetery itself is great, full of history and very old stones. The staff member at the gate was knowledgeable and kind, but didn’t mention staying on the path. You can’t read any of the stones that are NOT right next to the path, and we were looking for a specific stone for genealogy purposes, so we tried to move a little closer to one of the stones to see the details (just looking, not touching) but were immediately barked at by a woman on her phone who I later realized was another “staff member.” I remember coming here years ago when anyone could just wander in and browse. It’s sad that it has become this. I understand they don’t want people touching the stones, but it seems a little bit unnecessary to insist staying on the path, and very rude to just start yelling at people instead of calmly instructing us to the rules. If they are going to be that strict about staying on the path, they should really have large, obvious signs. Since you can’t see all the stones anyway, it’s not really worth it to go inside, just go to the memorial for the witch trial victims which is outside the gate, and you can get a nice view of the cemetery from there without bothering to reserve tickets.
Written 13 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill F
Winthrop, MA11 contributions
Aug 2019
I lived in mansfield Ma. in a new development cedar meadows in 1980s near canoe river camp ground . a short walk from there in the woods i came across 4 flat slate gravestones . Inscribed with the name of a minister and the others were his 3 wifes. dated 1670 does anyone have info on these?
Written 5 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colleen
5 contributions
Aug 2022
I loved it, it was amazing to see the different tomb stones and the names and such of the different people there from the salem witch trials. It wasn't to crowded, and you can take pictures and the tour guide there was wonderful with answering any and all questions we might have about the cemetery. I would so go again with my friends.
Written 1 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HeavnsLily
Rochester, NY37 contributions
May 2023
Fascinating place! Opens to the public at 11 am, no admission fee needed. Entrance is just down the street a little from the Witch Trials Memorial. Upon entering, look for the bronze map on a stone at the front of the cemetery before you venture in to give yourself a "whos who" of who is buried there so you can be on the lookout as you walk the pathways.
Written 1 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Courtney
Amherst, MA53 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Iconic, and Beautiful. They gave replanted the grass, cleaned up the debris and have restored some of the stones that had been broken. They now have two staff members on at all times to maintain the integrity of the site and answer questions. Beautiful examples of gravestone art. Gorgeous trees and winding paths.
Written 11 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does anyone know when this cemetery will re-open? I checked reviews and the website but cannot find a re-opening guestimate or date. Thanks!
Written 7 May 2021
Brandalee W
Allport, Pennsylvania
are leashed dogs allowed in the cemetery and are there any benches (traveling with a person with bad knees that needs to sit often while walking)
Written 4 August 2017
I don't think dogs are allowed. The cemetery is very small and there are places to sit right outside the actual burial area, including the adjacent Salem Witch Memorial.
Written 4 August 2017
There is really no need to book a tour to see the Old Burying Point Cemetery, and there is a very useful map/chart at one end (check the photo I attached to my review). And do not miss the small memorial area for the Salem "witches" right beside the cemetery. But there are several walking tours that would include this cemetery that might be interesting to take.
Written 29 December 2016
The town of Salem public parking garage - high rise type - is a real deal - 25 cents per hour - and it is close by most of what you want to see in the area, including the cemetery. So, rather than trying to find free parking in town, which is almost impossible, just go to the public garage. Nice view from the top floor as well. It is on the corner of Derby and Congress, just before the bridge over the harbor..
Written 30 December 2016
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